Plywood structure



Patented Oct. 22, 1946 PLYWOOD STRUCTURE Winfred E. Wilson, Los Angeles, Calif., assigner of one-half to Nina Mae Wilson,

Application November 1s, 1944, serial No. 564,147

2 Claims.

Y 1 A This invention relates to Vstructures of the type which maybe formed of plywood.

Specifically, the invention contemplates a struc# ture which is strong,`permits ready assembly, can

be erected and put in use by an inexperienced man following directions, and which is of such nature as to allow for variations in design of the building structure. Y

'I'he Y present :invention includes supporting means for a structure, such as roofs, and wherein the said means may be readily secured to a wall, truss, beam or other support, in a simple and expeditious manner.

Brieily stated, the invention contemplates the pre-assembling on a relatively thin strip, such as a plywood strip, of a given module, blocks of a desired shape and spacing adapted to receive therebetween cellular structural panels formed of plywood, and which blocks fit the contour of such cellular structural panels, thus resulting in bottom and side supports for the cellular structural panels.

'Ihe invention is durable, strong, readily adaptable to various structural uses, easy to manufacture, readily and inexpensively assembled, and capable of securing superior results.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a cross sectional view of a cellular structure which may be utilized in the practice of the invention, i

Figure 2 is a side elevation of structural elements which may be utilized in the practice of the invention,

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 2, i

Figure 4 is a detail of the invention when used as an arch, and, y

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view looking in the direction of the arrow 5 of Figure 3.

Referring to the drawing, I contemplate as one part of the invention, the corrugated plywood structure illustrated in Figure 1 in section. This structure may be formed in any manner desired with the plywood sheet I forming a series of lhollow corrugations, as shown at 2 and 3. Each hollow corrugation presents an elongated structure having two inclined side walls 4 and 5. The side walls converge downwardly and join with the base portion 6, and the divergent end portions of the side walls are joined by a top wall 'I substantially parallel .with the bottom wall 2. Thus, one or more substantially parallel corrugated beams result. These beams may Ebe bored, as

shown at 8 and 9, to allow passage therethrough of conduits, such as might be used for plumbing,

2 electrical wiring, or the like. There may be glued or otherwise secured to the top'wall l a plywood panel I9, and if desired, a further panel Il may be secured to and span the bases 6. rl'hus, such a structure as depicted in Figure 1 may :act as a support for floors, ceilings, or atlany location in a building where strength is required for supporting a load.

Iam aware that corrugated sheet metal structures have been on the market prior to this invention, but so far as I now know, no such structures have been formed of plywood and utilized in the manner hereinafter to be described. By way of example, in the use of my invention, I may take the structure as depicted in Figure 1, formed of plywood, and omit the lower panel II. Such an omission may occur when the panels are to be used over a curved surface. Due to the relative thinness of the section between the corrugations, the panel may be sprung to an approximate curve, and then tied, by nailing or other means.. I. have further contemplated, as a part of this invention, the structure illustrated in Figure 2, wherein a thin ilexible strip I2, thin as compared to its width and length, and which may be of plywood, has secured thereto a spaced series of blocks I3. These blocks may be of the shape shown in YFigure 2, wherein they are provided with inclined or slant- Ving side walls I 4 and I5, and parallel base and top portions IB and I l, respectively, the side walls converging toward the top and diverging toward the base. These blocks are shaped similarly to the corrugations of Figure 1.

Such a structure as just described permits a ready bending of the thin exible strip I2 upon which the said blocks are mounted, to form a curved structure, such as depicted in Figure 2,

and which permits the use of this structure around the top of a bowstring truss or timber arch.` This allows a very rapid erection Vof a complete roof structure and likewise presents a satisfactory appearance from the interior.

The corrugated or cellular structure o'f Figure 1 minus the panel II may be used in cooperation with the thin strips I2 and the blocks I3 mounted thereon as, for instance, illustrated in Figures 2, 3 and 5. Thus, the strip I2 with its blocks I3, may be secured to upright panel members I'I and I8 (see Figure 3), whereupon the corrugated or cellular structural panels of Figure 1 may be placed between the blocks I3. The panel I0 may be nailed or otherwise secured by means I9 to the blocks I3. The corrugated structure of Figure 1 preferably has its lower panel I I terminated adjacent the strip I2, as shown at 20. Likewise,

y vthe corrugated structure is positioned midway ture of Figure 1 with the block structure of Figvure 4. In this instance, the panel II would not l be utilized and the corrugated structure would be dropped between the blocks to forma curved truss structure, such as an arch. The panel IE)- would be secured to the top of the blocksl as be-H fore. Thus, is realized the advantage of providing thin strips, such as shown at I0 andfI'Z,A in that it allo-ws a, flexing of the structure to accommodate for various shapes.

The invention Will find many uses which are readily apparent to builders. I have, by the present invention, provided a series of blocks I3 which are pre-assembled upon a relatively thin flexible strip I2, the blocks .I3 being of such shape and spacing as to t the contour of cellular structural panels 2 and 3, thereby providing bottom and side supports for the cells of the cellular 4 structural panels with the securing of said cellular structural panels through the medium of thin top panels I0 to the tops of the blocks.

The use of pre-fabricated plywood sections permits the erection of buildings, such as dwellings, quite rapidly, particularly when such sections have been standardized and numbered.

Such sections permit an inexperienced builder to follow plans and' erect 'a dwell'in'gjor other building'rapidly 'and e'iccuratelyfand4 one that will have a high factor of safety Value.`

` f `I claim:

l. A built-up structure formed in the main of plywood, including a thin flexible plywood strip, blocks mounted on asurface of said strip, upright panels secured to said stripV and supporting the-same; a cellular structure interposed between said blocks, and means for securing said cellular structure to the blocks.

2. A built-up structure formed in the main of plywood, including a thin flexible plywood strip, blocks mounted on a surfacejof said strip, upright panels secured to said strip and supporting the same, a cellular structure interposed between said blocks, a panel transversely spanning the cellular structure and secured thereto, andv meansv Vfor,

securing saidpanel andthe cellularV structureto.

the said blocks.

' WINFRED E. WILSON..` 

